Rich Eisen: Why Shohei Ohtani Should Resume Pitching Next Season | The Rich Eisen Show

[@Dr._Wan___PharmD]

I want to watch Ohtani being a successful two way player in the majors again. He might be a once in a life time player who is still at his peak.

[@Kathy-22]

Same. We want Ohtani 2-way playing.

[@stevest8675]

Agree

[@craigwheeler4760]

He's come back from arm surgery once, and dominated. He can do so again. And he's being paid to do both. $70million per year is not something you give a DH. He's got to at least attempt pitching again.

[@gsmarcom]

Last month I flied 7000+ miles to LA to see Shohei play, I watched 3 games, saw him hit HR, bought tons of merchs. Next year I'm flying in again to see him pitch.

[@hoeheenaluboardriders8660]

Hey Rich and gang, Ohtani is pitching in 2024, not in real games. But Ohtani is going through an intensive throwing program to rehab his arm. Freddy Freeman said that people don't realize Ohtani is having a monster year batting while rehabbing his arm. He throws and does all of his rehab pitching exercises in the morning. After a rehab session, Ohtain goes through his pre-game hitting routine, like any other hitter. And Ohtani then plays a game and crushes home runs. Amazing.

[@EmptyWendyBag]

You can’t tell Ohtani he can’t pitch. Your main objective is to keep him happy and keep surrounding him with a good enough team to contend for championships. On top of all the deferred money in his huge contract he has all the negotiating power. If he wants to pitch then he’s going to pitch.

[@LAChannel-py5ll]

I just heard from Travis & Sliwa show (ESPN) that since the Statcast era in 2015, Dodger stadium has the second fewest home runs of 450 feet home runs or more. Only 15 home runs have been hit 450 feet or more at Dodgers stadium since 2015. Shohei has hit five of them. And this in just 3 &1//2 months !! Shohei is just unbelievable. Shohei will pitch next year and more . He's always said pitching is his passion.

[@briankorbelik2873]

Dodgers Stadium due to location, winds, whatever, hasn't been known as a easy park to homer in. More of a pitchers park, why do you think the Dodgers usually have good pitching.

[@craigwheeler4760]

@@briankorbelik2873 Shohei is one of those very few players where it doesn't matter what the stadium is. He hits his HR's so freaking hard, that it sounds like a shotgun going off. That guy's got the power to overcome any stadium.

[@ethan321]

Rich Eisen you need to apologize to Ohtani for misreporting the ippei's gambling scandal first! Ohtani was so nice to take a pic with your son last year and you did dirty to him! Shame on you!

[@Acebets70]

100%

[@stevest8675]

No. Rich Risen has talked very positive of Ohtani. The scandal made Rich Eisen questions. Its natural for people to question.

[@vuho2075]

Pointless debate, guys. Ohtani sees himself as a 2 way player. He's not giving up pitching. Who is going to tell him "No"? Come on...

[@briankorbelik2873]

As a lifelong, (I'm a geezer) Dodger fan, I'd love to see Ohtani do everything that he can do. Go for it Shohei! The GOAT!

[@Kathy-22]

Goatani

[@guyhealy5999]

Ohtani wants to pitch next year and I cannot wait to have that special part of his talent back! The narrative that he is hitting so much better now that he is not pitching is just not true. Despite missing the last month of the season last year he still led the AL in HR. His slash line last year was .304/.412/.654 with a 1.066 OPS, versus this season currently at .315/.401/.638 with 1.039 OPS. And he was 10-5 on a bad team with a .184 OBA. Nobody wants to see him get hurt again but he has already proved twice that if he hurts his arm he can still hit at a high level.

[@Kathy-22]

Agree

[@craigwheeler4760]

If he can lead the NL in 2 of 3 triple crown categories while rehabbing an arm injury, you won't want to be on the other team when he's healthy. This guy is not human. Right now he's on top of the NL in batting average and HR.. he's only trailing in RBI by like 5 or 6. He's gonna have a chance to get both the saber-metric and traditional triple crown titles this season.

[@pot2349]

Ohtani is passionate when on the mound more than at the plate.

[@yamamancha]

Money will not factor into whether or not Ohtani should pitch. The Dodgers have already made their money back from Ohtani's contract. They have multi-year deals with a dozen major Japanese companies. They sold out of home game advertisement slots and 3 dozen different companies are advertising on Dodgers away games. Ohtani merch is NO. 1 in sales. on top of that, the Dodgers get a decade of investment management returns on Ohtani's deferred annual salary.

[@kochan1111]

Ohtani last year had 33 or 34 HR at this point of year and had 490ft+ HR at Anaheim while pitching. Not compelling argument.

[@suika197]

Ohtani likes pitching and is already practicing and undergoing rehabilitation,😅😂 He will continue to play two way, Because he wants to try something that no one has ever done before. Ohtani is a real challenger.

[@Kathy-22]

Yes. Go Ohtani.

[@jimave]

He has already started throwing. He’s up to 80 mph.

[@mp0wa]

That was reported at the end of May so he can probably pitch a little faster now

[@calebconver2188]

He’s been throwing a while he’s just not ready to pitch yet. He’s expected to start the season opener next year.

[@TheRover87]

He's definitely having a fantastic year only hitting, but I guess cause with more coverage being on the Dodgers people have already forgotten that his ops, slugging and obp were all higher last year than it currently is right now.

[@inquisitvem6723]

Just remember he is recovering from elbow surgery

[@SamFowler-ko3rw]

Ohtani does throwing exercises before every game. You can even watch video of it on KZbin. *Edit this also isn't his first time rehabbing TJ while batting. See also 2019.

[@fated316]

Goat.

[@albertrodas7468]

He started throwing a little already but not fully yet

[@xiaobiaoxu5984]

It is fair to say that his improvement in hitting is partially due to DH full time (a better team is other reason) ... But his furtherest HR is 493 feet last year (which I think he has chance to do later this year, remember he is still technically in rehab). There is one and only one issue on Shohei doing both pitch and hitting: a higher risk of getting injured.

[@richstrobel]

That is what concerns Dodger fans and should concern us. If he gets injured pitching and can't hit that's a huge loss.

[@Nadine-sb3gh]

​@@richstrobelhe's injured his UCL last year and still hit before surgery, he's still technically injured now and still hit. The argument he still valuable even if he's injured, the problem will be if he injured when he hit more likely (like hamstring or oblique).

[@loxread]

but im still waiting on.. rich eisen: why rich should apologize to ohtani on his shoddy reporting

[@bizzz.R]

My guilty pleasure is watching Rich talk about Ohtani during the offseason

[@leonoreogawa9630]

Shohei has been throwing for some time now. Don’t you remember when he was pitching and hitting and being MVP?

[@tempusnon2157]

He is two way. Its no debate. He knows it

[@csy897]

actually he is already throwing as rehab. That's why his team mates said this guy doesn't even get as much batting practice cus of rehab! Anyways, ohtani will at least be a closer, no doubt about it

[@JackOfOneTrade]

This year, not pitching, his wRC+ is 185. Last year, pitching, it was MERELY a... 180. It's not like he wasn't an amazing hitter last year. Just let the man be an amazing unicorn.

[@LadyJay114]

He was always going to pitch next year. The Dodgers ain't paying $70M per for a DH.

[@bizzz.R]

I can listen to Rich Eisen and Mark DeRosa talk about Shohei ALL DAY. Poetry

[@Acebets70]

@@VeVettR TRUE

[@cs1422b]

And Ohtani hit the HR off an off-speed pitch. Not a 102 MPH Skenes fastball. The power was all Ohtani.

[@richstrobel]

I noticed that. 86 mph I think. He might hit a fastball 500 feet and out of Dodger stadium.

[@cs1422b]

@@richstrobel Agreed! It was an 86 MPH Cutter Crawford cutter that didn't cut so much.

[@松の葉-q2x]

Don’t worry the day is coming. And he knows the day’s coming. The day he’ll need to quit pitching. Until the day he’s happy as a little leaguer to play baseball with both way. And all of the sudden like a beautiful fireworks vanish in the sky on the last day of summer break. And we lose a chance to watch both way Ohtani forever.

[@Kathy-22]

We the fans want to see Shotime Shohei play 2-way.

[@brianyakata1978]

of I would make him my closer. 7th game bottom of the 9th with 2 outs. I wouldn’t mind ohtani.

[@aznnp77]

As much as I want Ohtani to be the best ever, After 2 Tommy Johns you gotta figure it out to preserve him. Maybe a 5 inning limit on every start. Maybe you skip every third start. Maybe you give him a month off every other month. Something needs to be done.

[@chaeminyu2215]

I think last season was his first year he hit .300. He hit 46 hr before but last year was his overall best hitting season. I agree with Rich here, it’s not that he’s not pitching but Shohei is just getting better in mlb level. He’s in his mlb prime and will be for awhile.

[@G1Duane]

Hold up…aren’t you still skeptical of his innocence in the gambling scandal that he was exonerated from??

[@Acebets70]

Yup he is a hater

[@Acebets70]

Wait a min... I thought Rich wanted Ohtani in jail? Why is he talking about him again? Hypo

[@tootspogsforever5590]

Alot of them sadly and never recanted😀

[@Acebets70]

@@tootspogsforever5590 Whats funny is that Sho will never do an interview with him ever...

[@MistaGrim]

Rich....I saw your and your son sitting behind home plate on the broadcast!

[@markturnbo583]

Ohtani has been throwing for months now. He's sheduled to throw a simulated game in September. These guys do zero research I suppose.

[@TypeMoon_luv]

投手に専念した大谷を見てないのに打者の方が優れていると決めるのは浅はかな気がする

[@inquisitvem6723]

Should? He will resume pitching. He wants to do both.

[@marksstudio]

The rehabbing pitcher is leading the NL in homers, but when he was pitching and hitting with the Angels he hit 46 homers. He needs to be a two way player.

[@veerchasm1]

$700M, yeah he’s gonna pitch

[@Sampleador]

They can talk all they want he wants to do both and if he is physically capable of doing it he will

[@manciti4709]

with the bullpen full of IL....dodgers could use some extra pitching...ohtani shall return next season as a starting ACE...wish management would utilize ohtani as a closer...to prolong his arm for another decade...imagine ohtani striking out the side in the bottom of 9th & hitting walk-off home-run to win the division...dreams are still possible in the city of angels

[@雅之今泉]

唯一無二

[@long-time-first-time]

Are we done accusing Ohtani of being a degenerate gambler? Cool.

[@ORagnar]

McGwire and Conseco where hitting them longer. McGwire hit one 538 feet and Canseco 540 feet. McGwire was consistently hitting monster shots. Yeah, yeah... I know... roids. o

[@darwinwins]

i want to see him catch a football for the Rams. just let him play one game. maybe towards the end of his baseball career.

[@kchun5515]

shohehi hit more homers when he was pitching. what are they talking about?

[@BryanChance]

Oh no. What do you mean? DId you hear something about him not pitching next season? As a fan, please resume pitching Ohtani!!

[@shawnstanley9620]

He could win cy young next yr and have a 40 to 40 ,he just on another level ,first season rehab first 50/50 man ,next yr is going to be stupid ,look at his angles career 6 yrs 2 mvp ,dont debat about one in lifetime just enjoy legendary

[@Alex-ss4bk]

5:27 he may not fill more sold out seats at dodgers stadium, you would think and hope that if viewership is tuned in on their "local/team owned/two companies that is under the same dogers umbrella like the yes network to the yankees." broadcasting channels airing the game, there could be something there financially for them.

[@davidwong6682]

Anyone knows how Shohei Othani's off season shoulder surgery goes?

[@Alundil_55]

He's already started throwing, according to injury reports

[@brendanvillines3715]

This is such a bad take lol he won MVP while pitching at an elite level and hammering the ball. He is a two-way player. End of discussion.

[@ZionismFailure]

You don't deserve to talk about Ohtani. Keep Ohtani's name out of your mouth! 🇯🇵

[@Seigerootz]

Ohtani has been throwing just not from the mound

[@The-soap]

I’m with rich he should pitch

[@ysc9762]

Ohtani hitting terrible this year = he shouldn't pitch next year because he can't hit. Ohtani hitting terrific this year = he shouldn't pitch next year because he can hit.

[@upsych1042]

They've been going back and forth with this in the last 3yrs. In '22, they said he should stop hitting because he's having a Cy Young season as a pitcher.🤭

[@stevem3308]

Why not have Ohtani be a closer? The duel with Trout was historic and the wear on his arm should be less...right?

[@scotts9821]

A Double Double at Shake Shack?!?!? Come on Rich, you're better than that!

[@sounthonechandavone2664]

Isn't he suppose to pitch next year what is he talking about

[@fhsd1998]

Let him be a relief pitcher and unleash him at the playoffs as a starter.

[@davidwong6682]

I don't mind that actually. Looks like LA Dodgers' pitching roster have an embarrassment of riches to choose from so there should be no rush with Shohei.

[@jamesrick7351]

He should resume pitching cause hes being paid to pitch as well thats why hes getting 70 mil a year

[@chavy-_-4690]

Ohtani doesn’t even take bp at stadiums…

[@Somewondude]

HE DOESNT NEED TO PITCH!

[@supaflykai]

Here's an unpopular opinion: Despite the stats and the monster home runs, Ohtani almost never hits when it counts

[@davidwong6682]

That opinion reflects your lack of understanding of teamwork in sports, which ultimately won LA Dodgers the 2024 World Series against NY Yankees.

[@supaflykai]

@davidwong6682 it has nothing to do with my understanding of teamwork, it's a comment about a single player's general performance

[@carlhicksjr8401]

How is he gonna fit that in with the mandatory Gamblers Anonymous meetings the team is making him do? Yeah, I said it.

[@davidwong6682]

Mate... Shohei had already been exonerated and it was his then Japanese translator who stole money from his account and gamble his life away. Pls get the facts right.

[@carlhicksjr8401]

@@davidwong6682 Bog rot. In Japanese business culture, one job expected of a manager is to insulate his employer from any consequences that might arise from the employer's poor behavior. I honestly believe the manager took the fall like a good little salaryman is supposed to. MLB has a LONG history of protecting star players from scandals [all three major sports league share that trait] and Shohei is putting asses in the seats in the two biggest markets MLB has. This nonsense is no better than the league covering for all the 'roid monkeys and with advent of legal gambling this is only gonna get worse.

[@davidwong6682]

@carlhicksjr8401 The theft was already reported to authorities and that Japanese translator, after pleading guilty to 2 fraud charges, will be sentenced on December 20. LA Dodgers already fired that translator earlier this year after discovering the situation. Shohei already addressed this in the press conference with the new translator and this incident is already public knowledge. For me I don't think Shohei hid anything we don't know about and Shohei and LA Dodger handled this matter appropriately.

[@ohiopigeon]

Remember he bet on baseball and should be kicked out of the sport.

[@davidwong6682]

It's his then Japanese translator who took money from his account and gamble his life away. Shohei has already been exonerated from the gaming accusation.